Madison County set to settle lawsuit against former sheriff

EDWARDSVILLE — Madison County is set to settle the lawsuit brought against former Sheriff Bob Hertz by county employee Jaimie Linton alleging sexual harassment.

Approval of a $42,500 settlement agreement between the county and a plaintiff is on the agenda for the County Board’s January meeting, and Linton’s attorney on Thursday filed a motion in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois to dismiss her case against the county, the former sheriff and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Linton filed a federal suit against Hertz, the county and and his then-office in November 2013. The suit included one count of sexual harassment and one count of inflicting emotional distress, asking for a total of $4 million in damages as a result. That amount had dropped to $500,000 just prior to the settlement agreement.

In the suit, Linton alleged Hertz harassed her by allegedly trying to develop a romantic relationship and becoming angry and jealous when she rebuffed him. Linton filed a complaint with the county claiming she believed the sheriff wanted a romantic relationship with her. She claimed he created a hostile work environment by threatening to have her followed, threatening her job and threatening to have her investigated. “Through the early months of 2012, the environment at the Sheriff’s Office was miserable,” the suit claimed.

Linton is currently employed in the county’s Probation and Court Services Department where she is an executive assistant. Hertz was defeated by current Sheriff John Lakin in last March’s primary election. He took office Dec. 1.

The county and Linton’s attorney negotiated for five hours Monday in a settlement conference overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Philip M. Frazier, according to court documents. The county’s Finance and Government Operations Committee approved a settlement authorization following an executive session Wednesday, but Madison County Administrator Joe Parente said he couldn’t comment on the nature of the settlement due to the county’s policy on pending litigation.

The settlement won’t be official until the County Board approves it at Wednesday’s meeting. Per county procedures, any payment in excess of $20,000 requires board approval.